Drama in the Church Saga by Dynah Zale Page A

replied.
    He pulled up next to her car.
    â€œDo you have a pen and a piece of paper?” she asked.
    â€œIn the glove compartment.”
    Elise pulled out a small notepad and pen. She scribbled her name and address on the sheet of paper, tore it off, and handed it to him. “I assume the hospital is going to send my hospital bill to your address.”
    â€œYeah, I did give them my address.”
    â€œWhen you get the bill, can you send it to me?”
    â€œNo.” He pushed the paper away. “I’ll take care of the bill. I am the one responsible for your accident.”
    â€œNo, I insist. Please send me the bill and I will have my insurance company take care of it.”
    â€œOkay,” he replied reluctantly, taking the slip of paper.
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    Thirty minutes later, Elise opened her front door and came face to face with Miles. He sat on the bottom step of their winding staircase with his head in his hands. He lifted his head and Elise saw the worry in his eyes.
    He saw the bandage wrapped around her leg and he ran over to her. He lightly brushed his hand over the gauze covering her leg. “Elise, what happened? I was so worried about you! I’ve been calling you all night. Where have you been?”
    â€œI got in a minor accident in the park.”
    â€œIn a car accident? Are you all right?” he asked and pulled her over to sit on the steps.
    â€œNo, not in a car accident.” She carefully sat down on the steps, trying her hardest not to move her leg any more than she had to. “Some guy ran into me on his bike in the park yesterday. I was bleeding badly, so he took me to the hospital and they gave me stitches.”
    â€œYou went to the hospital?” he asked, surprised.
    â€œThey gave me a tetanus shot. I completely lost it when I saw the needle. They had to give me a sedative to calm me down. So I spent the night at the hospital.” This was the first time she had ever lied to her husband. She felt it would be best if she spared him the truth. The truth would only add to the problems they already had.
    â€œThe hospital! I didn’t even think to call there.”
    â€œI left my identification and cell phone in the car, and the man who took me to the hospital didn’t know my name. So they had no idea how to contact my family.”
    â€œWho is the guy who took you to the hospital?”
    â€œI’m not sure. I didn’t get his name.”
    â€œYou never saw him before at the park?”
    â€œNo!” She wondered if he believed her story. “I caught a cab from the hospital back to my car this morning.”
    â€œHoney, I was so worried about you. I had so many terrible thoughts running through my mind. I wasn’t sure if I should call the police. I thought . . .” He stopped mid sentence.
    â€œYou thought what?”
    â€œI thought you left me. Maybe the problems we’ve been having was too much for you to bear.” Her heart crumpled. She hated to hear him talk like that.
    â€œYou have no reason to think that way. I told you I’d never leave you.”
    â€œI panicked. I couldn’t reach you and I thought the worst.”
    â€œI love you!” She leaned over and kissed her husband on the lips. “Can you help me up the stairs? I need to take a shower.”

Chapter 4
    The hands on the clock approached the eleven o’clock hour. Sunday school teachers were bringing their lessons to a close while members of the congregation arrived for Sunday morning service.
    â€œCan someone volunteer to close us out in prayer?” Tressie asked her Sunday school class.
    A group of seven-year-olds waved their hands, begging to be picked. Tressie looked out among them and chose Dontonio, who was hiding behind his sister. “Dontonio, why don’t you close us out in prayer?” she asked.
    â€œAwwwwwman, why you pick me?”
    â€œâ€™Cause you were trying to hide from me, that’s why.